Furnace-stoking mechanism



Dec. 21 1926.

J. J., BRIDGEFORD FURNACE STOKING MECHANISM Filed March 17 -l92 '3Sheets-Sheet 1 m 1 Q 1 mm ww r J .m@ m

J. J. BRIDGEFORD FURNACE STOKING MECHANISM Filed March 17 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 2 5] Mum 110a JJ'fimi ord in do ICE.

JOHN J. BBIDGEFGECD, OF EHILADELPHIA, PENN$YLVANIA.

FUEIQ'ACE-STOKENG MECHANISM.

Application filed March 17, 19%.

This invention relates to a furnace stoking mechanism, and particularlyto an improvement upon the construction disclosed in my priorapplication filed December id, 1922, Serial Number 606,855, andcomprises certain improvements thereon developed in the practicalapplication and construction of the mechanism.

The invention provides means for the con struction of the several gratemembers as units adapted to be readily changed when necessary or desiredand to permit of their retention in position without the use of screwsor other attaching devices adapted to be affected by the heat of thefurnace. it also provides for an improved form of actuating bar for theslice pins adapted to be formed as a unit and directly connected to thepins soas to eliminate difficulties incident to any lateral shift of thepins upon their actuating bar which might cause the members to be thrownout of alignment, and further eliminates the use of connecting linksbetween the slice pins and the bar for actuating the same.

The invention also provides an improved means for stoking the furnaceembodying the rearwardly and downwardly inclined series of shakinggrates by providing means for feeding the fuel upon the upper grates ofthe series where the volatile gases are distilled from the fuel which iscoked before starting on its movement downward upon the grate incidentto the action of the rocking grate members and the slice pins.

The invention therefore has for an object to provide a novel andimproved construction of actuating means for the reciprocatory slicepins or plungers by which they are positively maintained in alignmentwith the apertures through which they pass formed in the fixed gratebars, and

their easy and convenient operation under al conditions effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionof the rocking grate members which are formed in detachable andseparable units having an angular socket adapted to seat upon acooperating bar mounted for oscillation to effect a rocking movement ofthese grate members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new constructionof the dumping plates at the lower end of the grate series which areformed in units and detach Serial No. 699,933.

ably seated upon an actuating bar and also formed with a channelled andapertured body, permitting the free circulation of air therethrough toprevent warping or burning from any collected ash resting thereon.

@ther and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan of the mechanism removed from thefurnace structure;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through such. a structure with part ofthe grate in elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a similar view on line i ii of Figure 2; V

Figure 5 is a detail perspective of the actuating bar for the slicepins;

Figure 6 is a similar view of the mounting for the rocking gratesections;

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of these sections;

Figure 8 is a detail section through one of the dumping plates.

Like reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral fig ures of the drawings.

The general arrangement of the furnace is similar to that disclosed inmy application above referred to and the grates as therein shown areassembled in two parallel series each of said series being formed ofsections independently operable so as to more effectually provide forthe downward feeding of the fuel from the front toward the rear of thefurnace. The invention, however is not confined to such a specificarrangement as other adaptations of the assembled grate members may beused.

In the form of the invention here shown the numeral 10 designates thefront plate of the furnace which is suitably mounted at one side of theusual ash pit 11 while the bridge wall thereof is indicated at 12. Thisfront plate is provided with the fire door 13 of ordinary constructionand immediately beneath the same the dead plate 14 is secured. Thisplate supports the side or hearing bars 15 for the grate units and thesebars may be formed with a socket 16 at the forward end to engage withthe dead plate 14. The bars are inclined rearwardly and downwardly andthe lower ends 17 ill) thereof disposed in sockets 18 in the bridge wallwhere provision is made for their expansion and contraction under theheat conditions in the furnace. A suitable number of these bearing barsis provided for supporting the desired series of grates.

Extending intermediate of the bars 15 are fixed grate bars 20 which attheir ends seat in sockets in the bearing bars, as shown at 21 in Figure2. These fixed grates are formed upon their opposite side faces with aseries of ribs 22 forming radiating fins and permitting the upwardpassage of air through the grate so as to properly effect a draft andprevent overheating of the bars. The fixed grate is formed at intervalswith the apertures or sockets 23 through which the slicing pins orplungers 2% pass and said pins are properly spaced from the wallsthereof to permit free reciprocation and incidental oscillation. Thesepins are preferably formed tubular as indicated at 25 in Figure 3 toprevent warping or distortion thereof when inserted into the body ofincandescent fuel. The pins are, however, normally withdrawn below thebody of the fuel and adapted to be projected upwardly by means of acrank shaft 26 which is pivoted at its opposite ends 27 in bearings 28formed in the bearing bars 15 as shown in Figure 4. This crank shaft isformed at properly spaced intervals with pivoting lugs 29 adapted tocooperate with the apertured lower end 30 of the slice pins which aresecured to the lugs by means of a pivot 31. The crank shaft is alsoformed with an operating arm 32 which is pivotally connected at 33 witha connecting bar 3-1 which provides for the simultaneous operation of aseries of the slice pins. This connecting bar may be operated in. anydesired manner, for instance by means of an operating bar or rod 35extending to the front plate of the furnace where it is secured to alever 36 by a pivotal connection 37.

A similar independent lever and connection is provided for each seriesof the slice pins which are substantially identical in construction. Theformation of the crank shaft as an integral unit by casting or otherwiseprovides means for positively spacing and rigidly retaining the slicepins in proper alignment and also obviates the use of any linkconnections between the shaft and the pins, thus providing for positiveand direct movement. The direct connection of the slice pins between thelugs upon the bar prevents any possibility of lateral displacement whichwas liable to occur when the pins were connected to the shaft by collarsretained in position by fastening devices.

Intermediate of the fixed grates 20 or ad jacent thereto are a series ofrocking grates adapted to be projected upward and to lift the fuel fromthe grate bars to prevent the formation of clinkers and sift down thefine ash between the bars. These rocking grates are formed of units 38as shown in Figures 6 and each being provided with a series of radiatingand air admitting ribs 39 upon the upper and one side face thereof.These units are also formed with an angular socket 40 adapted to seatupon a similarly formed bar 41 by which the rocking movement is impartedto the units of the grate. This bar is provided at its end with a plate42 which is pivoted in the bearing bars 15 by means of a, pint-1e 43.These pivots are provided in the upper portion of the bars 15 and eachof the rocking bars il is formed with a depending arm 4% pivotallymounted upon a connect-ing plate 4L5 from which an operating bar l6extends to the front plate of the furnace where it is connected with anactuating lever i7 suitably mounted in a bearing 1-8 thereon. Thisconstruction of the rocking grate permits the units thereof to beremoved whenever found necessary or desirable by simply lifting the samefrom the angular support and replacing as they are normally held inposition by the body of fuel superposed upon the grate so that nofurthersecuring means are necessary.

he assembled rocking grates and slicing bars so far described effect adownward movement owing to the inclination of the grates and the ash andother waste is finally fed upon the dumping plates which are formed inseparate units similar to the shaking grate members and adapted to belikewise removably sup sorted in position. These plates are formed withchannels 51 upon their upper face and the base of these channels isapertured as at 52 so as to permit a passage of air through the platesto establish a proper draft and to prevent warping or distortionthereof. The plates are formed at one side with an angular socketadapted to be removably seated upon a cooperating bar 5% extendingacross the grate and formed with lever 55 con-- nected for operation atthe front of the furnace by a rod or bar 56 extending to an independentpull handle 57 which may be re tained in position by a latch device 57engaging a seat on the bar By these means the dumping plates may beoperated independently of either the slicing bars or rocking grates andeach of these members is likewise independent in its operative action sothat fuel upon the upper portion of the grate may be lifted and feddownward until a proper bed is secured at the lower portion thereof.Under some conditions it may be desirable to shake and clear the lowerportion of the bed more frequently than the upper and this independentoperation of the several series of shaking grates and slice pins permitsuch action.

Cal

is formed with a discharge plate 62 by which the fuel is deposited uponsubstantially the first three of the shaking grates.

The hopper may be of any preferred con-v struction but a desirable formembodies the end walls 63 which are formed with a slideway to receivethe damper or gate 65 which is thereby spaced from the front wall of thefurnace for a suflicient distance to permit the connection therewith ofthe operating links 66, these links being pivoted to a plate 67 mountedupon one end of an operating lever 68 supported upon a bearing post 69and provided at its opposite end with a manually operable connection 70depending therefrom.

The end walls of the hopper are also formed with a seat or socket 71which receives a cross plate 72 adapted to prevent the contact of thebody of fuel with the face of the gate or damper 65 which would affectits free operation and the pivoting post 69 extends upward from thisplate as shown in Figure 1.

In the operation of the stoker the fuel passes from the hopperthroughthe opening in the furnace front by raising the slide therein,and is deposited upon the upper series of grates where the volatilegases are distilled and pass over the incandescent bed of fuel upon thelower portion of'the grate, being thus consumed to increase thetemperature of the furnace and prevent smoke. The fuel is thus cokedbefore beginning its downward feed upon the inclined grates and suchfeeding is accomplished by the suc cessive operation of the rockinggrates and slice pins. These grates by their movement into the fire bedprevent the formation of clinkers, sift down the fine ash and close upthe walls in the fuel bed as the coked fuel is fed downward. This isfurther assisted by the operation of the slice pins and the group ofpins and grates at the upper portion of the furnace are first actuateduntil a proper bed of fuel is deposited over the entire body of thegrate. These slice pins effectually prevent the formation of clinkers bybreaking them into small particles, and such matter being lighter thanthe fuel is quickly fed downward toward the dumping plates at the lowerend of the grate from which all ash and unburned material may be dumpedinto the ash pit.

The ribbed construction of both the rock ing and stationary grateelements permits afree draft through the fuel to effect completecombustion thereof, and the construction of these elements permit theirready removal and replacement as found desirable or necessary. This isparticularly important in connection with the rocking grates which areformed from a plurality of units assembled upon a rock shaft and adaptedto be lifted directly therefrom when in normal position.

The invention also presents an improved construction of actuating shaftfor the slice pins embodying crank member at the opposite ends thereofand integrally formed connections directly to the pins so as to insure apositive movement and prevent lateral displacement.

The same desirable element of replacement is presentedin connection withthe dumping plates which are formed in sections having sockets toremovably interlock with the shaft upon which they are mounted. Theconstruction of these dumping plates and their shaft is such as toremove the shafts from the fire and to prevent the expansion andcontraction of the plates which are channeled and apertured to permitfree circulation of air therethrough.

While the specific details of construction have been herein shown anddescribed, the invention is not confined thereto as changes andalterations may be made both in the construction and assemblage of thegrate members and slice pins without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a furnace stoker mechanism, a grate comprising a series of shakingbars, stationary bars intermediate said shaking bars and having openingstherein, fuel penetrating members guidingly supported by said stationary bars for movement thereth-rough into and out of the fuel bed, anactuating shaft having crank arms at its opposite ends, and meansthereondirectly pivoted to the penetrating members intermediate of saidends.

2. In a furnace stoker mechanism, a grate comprising a series of shakingbars, stationary bars intermediate said shaking bars and having openingstherein, fuel penetrating members guidingly supported by said stationarybars for movement therethrough into and out of the fuel bed, a shafthaving crank arms pivoted at its opposite ends, lugs upon said shaftdirectly pivoted to the lower ends of said penetrating member, and anoperating lever carried by said shaft.

3. In a furnace stoker mechanism, a fixed grate bar supported at itsopposite ends and provided with a series of intermediate apertures,slice pins disposed to reciprocate through said apertures and havingreduced lower ends, a crank shaft pivoted at its opposite ends providedintermediate thereof with a series of spaced lugs directly pivoted tosaid pins, and an actuating lever from said crank shaft,

4. In a furnace stoker mechanism, the combination of side supports, aseries of spaced fixed grate bars mounted thereon, slicing pinsprojectible through said bars, an operating shaft for said pins mountedin the side supports and directly pivoted to said pins, a series of rockshafts mounted in the side supports intermediate of the fixed gratebars, and a plurality of shaking grate units having an open socketdetachably mounted upon said rock shafts.

5. In a furnace stoker mechanism, the combination of side supports, aseries of spaced fixed grate barsmounted thereon, slicing pinsprojectible through said bars, an operating shaft for said pins mountedin the side supports and directly pivoted to said pins, a series of rockshafts mounted in the side supports intermediate of the fixed gratebars, a plurality of shaking grate units having an open socketdetachably mounted upon said rock shafts, a supporting shaft pivoted inthe side supports beyond said fixed and shaking grate members, and aplurality of dumping plates With open sockets replaceahly mounted uponsaid supporting shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN J. BRIDGEFORD.

